The Jesus Podcast

If you have ever played hide-and-seek as a kid, you know the sense of anticipation as you wait in hiding and the exhilaration of being found. As we grow, the idea of hiding may not come with the same sense of excitement. This episode showcases the call of Nathanael, a man who was known but still fet...

Our sense of identity can ebb and flow with the various seasons of life as we grow and change with our surroundings. But what if our identity could be much more stable?We kick off our new mini-series called "Jesus and the Outcasts" with the call of Simon (who you may know as Peter). Before he meets ...

God’s arms are always open. When you’ve failed. When you’ve stumbled. God’s arms are still open. Wide open. Ready to embrace you. Welcome to our final parable episode. We are going to finish up the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Jarhameel took his father’s inheritance, essentially wishing that he woul...

How do we react to the sinners in our lives? Do we enable them? Do we hope for their demise? Or do we recognize that we are also sinners, face-planting through life, in desperate need of a savior? Today is part 2 of our parable finale through the story of the Prodigal Son. Last episode, we met Abiat...

How far does God’s grace go? The story of the Prodigal Son reveals the answer to that question. Today, we are exploring the story of the Prodigal Son. This story is iconic for a reason. There are two brothers. One is a rule follower, the other is a thrill seeker. Perhaps you fall into one of these t...

Here’s the reality: storms will come. The question is, have you invested enough time and effort to strengthen your base? This is a story of two brothers – two houses – two foundations. One house was built on the rock, and the other was built on the sand. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devo...

We’ve all been given gifts. We’ve been given talents, resources, and opportunities. What have you done with those gifts? Have you invested time and passion, or have you hidden them from the world? This parable is another punch to the jaw, as Jesus warns us about neglecting the gifts and opportunitie...

I can be blessed by the gifts of the Spirit in your life. I can be a recipient of your kindness, love, and mercy. I can benefit from your faith… But I can’t borrow it. Today’s story is controversial. The Parable of The Ten Vigins. As we take a good look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:...

Nobody knows the day or the hour. Jesus could come in an instant. Will you be caught flat-footed? This parable is told in response to Peter’s question, “What will happen at the end, and what will be the sign of your coming?” Jesus tells this story to address something more important than a date or t...

What is ‘fairness’ according to God? Does God give a certain amount of favor to those who work the longest? Does God pick favorites? If you work harder, longer, and on more things, does it mean God will give you a special reward above others? This parable is only found in the gospel of Matthew. Jesu...

We’ve all been told money isn’t everything. Most of us would nod our heads and agree. But do we live like that’s true? Today, we delve into a story that Jesus told, not just as a parable but as a sobering reminder of the eternal consequences of our earthly choices. Join me as we examine the story of...

Sooner or later, we all must give an account to God for what He’s entrusted to us. The question is: will we be shrewd, creative, and industrious with what we have, or will we have a lazy and unurgent attitude toward life? This parable is often considered one of the most difficult to understand. Why?...

Have you ever struggled with the concept of prayer? Have you wondered if prayer actually moves the hand of God or if it’s just a religious practice to get our hearts right? Let’s dive into an often overlooked and misunderstood parable - the Persistent Widow. This is a story about a wicked judge who ...

Is your heart ready to receive God's word? Or has it been choked out by the anxieties of life? Today’s story is simple, yet buried deep within is a message about truth, God’s word, and our hearts. It’s about a farmer who goes out into his field to sow some seeds. Not every seed falls on good soil, t...

How important is it to forgive? How crucial is forgiveness for our faith and relationship with God? The parable of the unforgiving servant is critical for our faith! It has foundational truths for our walk with God and how we interact with others. The way we view forgiveness reflects the way we view...

The Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t care if you’re rich, poor, tall, short, introverted, or extroverted. The Kingdom of Heaven is for those who joyfully accept the invitation. Today’s story is about a Kingdom. The King, excited to celebrate his son, invites all the nobles and merchants to come to the wedd...

God invites us all to partner with him. But will we be too prideful to accept the invitation? Do we want everything to ourselves? This parable is rich in symbolism and searing in its indictment of misplaced priorities. This story about the Wicked Tenants offers a profound exploration of stewardship,...

What if tomorrow isn’t promised? What if today is all you had? How seriously would you take your faith, then? This parable was told by Jesus as a warning to anyone who says, “I’ll take my faith seriously once I _______.” That sentence can be filled with a myriad of different things. “I’ll take my fa...

The truth is, we are all like sheep. We all have a tendency to wander and repeat our mistakes. We need guidance. We need protection. We need a Good Shepherd. This dramatized parable takes us through the cold, wintry forest where a shepherd lays it all on the line for his sheep. This story reveals th...

God is actively working against the proud and pompous. If that doesn’t force us to seek humility, I don’t know what will… The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, as narrated by Jesus, pierces through the facade of righteousness to reveal the profound truth of God's grace. These two men li...

Heroes come from unexpected places. Not from temples or towers, but off the streets and from the shadows. The Parable of the Good Samaritan communicates the upside-down kingdom of God - where the religious elite are shown as hypocrites, and the humble outcasts are shown as heroes. Go to JesusPodcast...

Who are our neighbors? The people who live next to us? The people who look like us, think like us, or vote for us? Jesus confronts the prevailing belief that only a few people are worthy of our love, trust, and respect. The Parable of the Good Samaritan stands as a beacon of light against the darkne...

Who are our neighbors? The people who live next to us? The people who look like us, think like us, or vote for us?  Jesus confronts the prevailing belief that only a few people are worthy of our love, trust, and respect. The Parable of the Good Samaritan stands as a beacon of light against the ...

What does it mean to live in light of the resurrection? How do we, imperfect people on this side of heaven, live lives that echo eternity? Jesus walks the shores of Galilee one last time, and reassures His beloved apostles that He will always be with them. Then, shrouded in glory, He ascends into he...

To truly move on and embrace the future, you first have to wrestle with your past. For the first time since his death, Peter looks Jesus in the eyes. Jesus takes Peter through a process of restoration and commissions him for the mission ahead. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devotionals abo...

How many chances does God give people to repent and return to Him? Peter needs to escape his dark memories, so he returns to what he knows best - fishing. As he goes out, a thousand memories rush back into his mind. Memories of failure and faith. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devotionals ...

Have you ever wrestled with the need for evidence? Has doubt robbed you of experiencing the joy of Jesus? You’re not alone. Thomas wasn’t fortunate enough to witness Jesus with the rest of the apostles. He doesn’t believe their witness. Thomas is faced with the same journey many of us find ourselves...

Peace isn't the absence of struggle; it's the presence of Jesus in the midst of it all. Jesus finally reveals Himself to the disciples. Their hearts are filled with hope, and Jesus gives them the most precious gift of all - The Holy Spirit. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devotionals about ...

Jesus told them this would happen. In fact, the entire Bible has been whispering the death and resurrection of the Messiah since the beginning. Two followers of Jesus travel on a road, feeling the sorrow of their master’s death. For a brief time on the road, they forget their grief when they meet a ...

Imagine that Jesus was your brother. Perfect in every way. Never making mistakes. Imagine living in that shadow… Jesus pays a special visit to one of his greatest critics… James… During this intimate moment, James realizes who his brother actually is, and wrestles with all the feelings Go to JesusPo...

Shame is an anchor. It holds us down, hindering our reach upward. Do you need to be set free? Peter relives his greatest failure. It plays over and over in his mind. He finds himself stuck in a cycle of shame, unable to get out. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devotionals about Jesus.Today'...

What’s more important to you? Status and control, or transformation and a relationship with God? The guards return to the chief priests and tell them what they saw. To cover it up, the chief priests pay off the guards and plan a conspiracy to end the movement of believers before it has a chance to b...

We’ve all experienced despair at some point in our lives. But there is no darkness so dense that the light of Jesus can’t pierce through. Jesus appears to Mary and the other women. They worship him, unable to believe what they are seeing. With a spark in their hearts, they run to tell the disciples....

If God is dead, then so is our hope. But God isn’t dead… Mary and the others run to tell the disciples what they’ve seen. Peter and John race to the tomb to see if for themselves. Jesus is gone… But the concept of resurrection is hard for them to grasp. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devot...

Whatever darkness you’re lost in. Whatever sin that’s held you captive. There’s hope! Jesus was slain, and the land has been shrouded in darkness for three days. Hope was buried along with the body of Jesus. But, as the light crested over the hills on the third day, hope was revived. Go to JesusPodc...

Have you ever questioned your role in the community of God? Have you ever felt like an outsider? You aren’t alone. Jesus is dead, and his disciples are hidden and afraid of meeting the same fate. Two unexpected figures devote themselves to his burial. All seems hopeless for the followers of Christ, ...

What are you worth to God? What was the price to buy back your soul from darkness? The cost for your heart was weighty – the blood of God himself. God himself is put on trial before a court of liars. He remains silent and embraces torture, mockery, and death on our behalf. Good Friday is only good b...

Do you worship a weak God? Is your God a victim? A prisoner? How you view God will say a lot about how you view yourself. Jesus enjoys a few tender moments with his disciples during Passover. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lamb of God gives himself up to wolves, but not without displaying his powe...

How much do you value Jesus? What is he worth to you? To some, he’s worth laying everything on the line. To others, he’s worth a few pieces of silver. Jesus enjoys the company of his friends. Warmth fills their hearts, and everything seems perfect. However, hidden under the cloak of night, the High ...

What does it mean to be Holy? Is it being perfect or humbling reaching for God?Jesus confronts the corruption and hypocricy of the religious leaders. Without fear, he delivers a harsh but truthful message. He is making enemies with powerful people, but that’s all a part of the plan.Today's Bible ver...

What makes God angry? What would it take for the Prince of Peace, Jesus, to act out in rage?Jesus bursts into the temple with passion and boldness, flipping tables and driving out the greedy moneychangers. People stand in awe as Jesus delivers a harsh rebuke to the religious elite.Today's Bible vers...

True greatness is not having lofty titles or golden crowns but knowing when to lay it all down for the sake of others.Passion Week begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry. The multitude welcomes Jesus like a king as he rides in humbly on a donkey. The crowd worships Him for now, but Jesus knows a cross i...

Joseph is given another dream - a warning. He must get Mary and Jesus to safety. He realizes that this is what he was called to all along - protect God’s Son, even if it costs him his life.Today's Bible verse is Deuteronomy 31:8, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christi...

Herod, boiling in a jealous rage, commits the same act as Pharaoh did long ago. In a chaotic and fiery frenzy, children are taken from their homes and killed, all because of the pride of one man.Today's Bible verse is Romans 8:28, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christ...

In a humble house, nestled near the valley where King David himself once herded sheep, the King of Kings is adorned with gifts. Each gift is a symbol of his identity and prophecy of his fate.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 6:21, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian...

The magi arrive at the palace of King Herod, looking for the King of the Jews. Herod welcomes them with false-humility, smiling through his gritted teeth. Something isn’t right.Today's Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 15:50, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian conten...

Magi, masters of alchemy and astronomy, notice an anomaly in the constellations. Their curiosity leads them to the scriptures, where they become convinced God has done something miraculous.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 2:2, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian co...

Mary and Joseph take the newborn Jesus to be dedicated to the temple. There, they meet a prophet who gives blessings and warnings of things to come.Today's Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirat...

The shepherds arrive to see the newborn king swaddled in a manger. The sight, as humble as it is, fills them with awe. They share what they’ve seen, and rumors of the Messiah’s arrival begin to spread throughout the land.Today's Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 1:18, from the King James Version.Download...

It is time for God to announce the arrival of his only begotten Son. Who shall He choose to proclaim his arrival to first? Kings? Priests? No… He sends a choir of angels to lowly shepherds.Today's Bible verse is Luke 2:10, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian cont...